Why do they put the speaker on the back of the phone?

[worknman]

I'm sure the engineers who build these phones are quite brilliant individuals, and certainly, at least one of them has figured out by now that, "Hey, if we put the speaker on the back of the phone, the sound is going to be muffled when the phone rings!"

So I'm just curious if there is some logistical/technical reason why this is done? I figure it would be much better design-wise to put the speaker on the front, or maybe even on the bottom. Other than not being able to see the screen in direct sunlight, this is the only real gripe I have about the phone thus far.

Also, do you guys lay the phone face down when not using it, assuming you'd otherwise sleep right through the phone ringing when sitting on its back?

 

[06Stang]

No because face down mutes the phone. But I do see your point about the speaker

 

[upther]

I don't mind the speaker placement. With the way the back of the phone is designed, the phone never really lays flat on it's back, especially with a case.

 

[Airmaxx23]

No because face down mutes the phone. But I do see your point about the speaker

I always keep my phone face down and it always rings. I just called it from a different phone to make sure.

 

[Kev13Dd]

I always keep my phone face down and it always rings. I just called it from a different phone to make sure.

Same. The case on my phone makes setting it on the front perfect, as it sits on the rubber case rather than the screen, and I don't have to worry about scratching the camera lens. Works rings perfect 100% of the time

K

 

[MutantCheese]

If they put the speaker on the front, the the screen would have to be smaller or the phone would have to be larger....simple.

 

[06Stang]

Then you must have turned it off. Its a feature. Flip over to mute the phone

 

[Mskgreenel]

It sucked on the Eris, the ringer was really muffled & low but w/ the Inc. I don't have a problem with the speaker on the back.

 

[yojoe600]

who wants a speaker hogging up screen space and looking ugly on the front?

 

[potterdood]

It sucked on the Eris, the ringer was really muffled & low but w/ the Inc. I don't have a problem with the speaker on the back.

so what's the update on your phone? got a replacement shipped yet?

 

[VelociT]

When I carry my phone in my pocket, I always make sure the screen is facing toward my body. Seems to be more likely to protect the device if say, I bumped into some one or some thing. Having something hit the back of the phone would be way more desirable than slamming into the screen, that's my take on it. So, the speaker being on the back seems works pretty well for me, since it can blast sound out through the fabric rather than into the side of my leg. It seems fine to me, anyway.

-edit:

I leave the phone on it's back typically, and I have no trouble sleeping through someone calling me.

 

[GrandMasterB]

Then you must have turned it off. Its a feature. Flip over to mute the phone

You have to flip it over while ringing to mute. Try it, have the phone laying face up and call it from another phone and flip over and it mutes it. Now try calling it again starting face down, it still rings ,if you want to mute it you have to do a full revolution back to face down and it will mute.

PS I love this phone

 

[AHanks12]

You have to flip it over while ringing to mute. Try it, have the phone laying face up and call it from another phone and flip over and it mutes it. Now try calling it again starting face down, it still rings ,if you want to mute it you have to do a full revolution back to face down and it will mute.

PS I love this phone

I've known about this feature since the beginning but it has never worked for me. I've done several tests turning it on then off, etc... I have never been successful in getting this feature to mute my ringer. Whatever, I usually just "swipe up" to ignore.

 

[ubet]

The speaker is the only problem I have with this phone. It's not well protected. If you work around metal, specifically small metal shavings, they will collect on the screen of the speaker, if you try to take.them off, it ruins the speaker, trust me on this i have been down this road, have hadto get a replacement phone because of it. One more grip, if you need a replacement inc after 30 days, you get a refurbished, not a new one but a used inc. Pissed me off BIG TIME! I BOUGHT a NEW phone not a refurb, but they sent me one anyways.

 

[IcedTC]

You have to flip it over while ringing to mute. Try it, have the phone laying face up and call it from another phone and flip over and it mutes it. Now try calling it again starting face down, it still rings ,if you want to mute it you have to do a full revolution back to face down and it will mute.

PS I love this phone

I too love this phone! It's the perfect size and honestly I really don't want a phone with a larger screen.

I remember in some post you were talking about the PSP and I totally agreed with you. The psp was awesome graphically,etc. but when it really came down to taking it with you places, it was too damn big! Not pocket friendly.

Back on topic, I love that when my phone rings that once I move it, it goes silent. Very smart design.

 

[IcedTC]

The speaker is the only problem I have with this phone. It's not well protected. If you work around metal, specifically small metal shavings, they will collect on the screen of the speaker, if you try to take.them off, it ruins the speaker, trust me on this i have been down this road, have hadto get a replacement phone because of it. One more grip, if you need a replacement inc after 30 days, you get a refurbished, not a new one but a used inc. Pissed me off BIG TIME! I BOUGHT a NEW phone not a refurb, but they sent me one anyways.

The refurb thing is very lame. I hear you on that.

But for the metal shavings thing...I would highly recommend just keeping it in your pocket and using headphones. Crappy speaker protection or not...I wouldn't keep my Inc. out near metal shavings unless it was a total necessity.

Whenever I weld/use the wire wheel etc. I either keep it in my pocket or in my office.

 

[MutantCheese]

If you work in a harsh environment, with any advanced smartphone, I would suggest an otter box. I think otter is about to offer 3 different cases for the Inc.

 

[ChuckFarley]

Here's something I just noticed while listening to some Stern on my Inc: While the phone is face up, and on a hard surfice, with sound coming from the speaker; the sound is richer and actually clearer than being face down. I'm not a doctor, but I'm thinking it's basic acoustics. The sound waves bounce off of a hard surface and dispurse through and around the phone, producing a warmer sound. So perhaps these genius engineers are actually on to something, putting the speaker on the back of the phone.

 

[IcedTC]

Here's something I just noticed while listening to some Stern on my Inc: While the phone is face up, and on a hard surfice, with sound coming from the speaker; the sound is richer and actually clearer than being face down. I'm not a doctor, but I'm thinking it's basic acoustics. The sound waves bounce off of a hard surface and dispurse through and around the phone, producing a warmer sound. So perhaps these genius engineers are actually on to something, putting the speaker on the back of the phone.

Howard Stern? If so how?

I own sirius but isn't he not on the sirius xm app? Or is Stern a band? lol

 

[ChuckFarley]

Howard Stern? If so how?

I own sirius but isn't he not on the sirius xm app? Or is Stern a band? lol

Not to get off topic...but yeah, Howard Stern. Unfortunately, you're right about the app, but there's software to record the show from the web access for the show that I've been using for years to get the show on my ipod. Don't know what I'm going to do with myself if he really goes off air in a couple months...

 

[civicsisedan]

You have to flip it over while ringing to mute. Try it, have the phone laying face up and call it from another phone and flip over and it mutes it. Now try calling it again starting face down, it still rings ,if you want to mute it you have to do a full revolution back to face down and it will mute.

PS I love this phone

Doing that is the feature "Quiet ring on pickup"

When checked it says "Reduce ring volume when I move phone"

 

[ath1337]

Here's something I just noticed while listening to some Stern on my Inc: While the phone is face up, and on a hard surfice, with sound coming from the speaker; the sound is richer and actually clearer than being face down. I'm not a doctor, but I'm thinking it's basic acoustics. The sound waves bounce off of a hard surface and dispurse through and around the phone, producing a warmer sound. So perhaps these genius engineers are actually on to something, putting the speaker on the back of the phone.

I completely agree, sound quality is much better and louder when the phone is face up on a hard surface.

 

[GrandMasterB]

Doing that is the feature "Quiet ring on pickup"

When checked it says "Reduce ring volume when I move phone"

No its not. I purposely keep that box unchecked for fear I will miss a call while walking or otherwise actively moving.

 

[freddyttt]

have no problem with where the speaker is just wish it went a little louder while streaming music.

any way to make that happen?

 

[dan409]

Here's something I just noticed while listening to some Stern on my Inc: While the phone is face up, and on a hard surfice, with sound coming from the speaker; the sound is richer and actually clearer than being face down. I'm not a doctor, but I'm thinking it's basic acoustics. The sound waves bounce off of a hard surface and dispurse through and around the phone, producing a warmer sound. So perhaps these genius engineers are actually on to something, putting the speaker on the back of the phone.

I've noticed that the phone is ALOT louder when sitting on its back. The sound does reflect off of whatever surface you set it on. The harder the surface the louder it seems to be. I can set the phone down face up and have a speakerphone converstion from about 6 feet away with no problem ! lol Seriously--- give it a try....